Legal Project Management

Legal Project Management (LPM) is the application of project management principles and practices to enhance the delivery of legal services. In fact, it is much more than that, as the research into the Legal Project Management Competency Framework found that it includes technology enablement, process improvement and people leadership (team dynamics). It creates both high performing people and guidance by great systems and process.

It [LPM] involves more thoroughly defining the engagement at the outset, planning it, executing/actively managing it and evaluating/closing the matter at the end. It is not “rocket science” but does involve the application of specific methodologies, tools and approaches that have not historically been used by lawyers. 

— Susan Lambreth, author

LPM recognises that legal matters are projects, and to be able to be planned and executed consistently and effectively, they should embrace appropriate project management tools and practices. This not only increases efficiency, it enables fixed price legal work.

The value of LPM practices also helps ensure that law firms remain profitable through:- clear scope development and change management;- managing their own risks and being responsive to resolve project issues;- consistently delivering quality outcomes even during peak workloads periods; and- improving client and key stakeholder relationships.

All training education programs listed below are endorsed by the International Institute of Legal Project Management (IILPM). Avuka Training is the only IILPM-accredited training provider for South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria and Swaziland.

The International Institute of Legal Project Managementwas formed by the coming together of legal project management experts from the nations of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Spain and Australia. It all started with research into how legal project management was being deployed across 9 different countries, where no standards or consistency was found to be in place.

The Legal Project Management Global Advisory Council (LPMGAC) was formed as a steering committee to the research, leading to the publication of the Legal Project Management Competency Framework (LPMCF), which was co-authored by the Institute.